... to not cry or be at all upset at baby jabs?

[Hugasauras]

Wondering if I have a heart of stone or am dead inside!

I always see posts on here, and some of my friends have said the same, that they cried or were in a state for their baby's jabs, one person I know said they wanted to hit the nurse(!), and they've honestly never bothered me at all We've just gone, baby has screamed for like 30 seconds and then we've gone home. Am I a sociopath?! Or is anyone else a callous cow?

I could have cried after taking DS1 for his pre-school boosters, but not out of compassion for his suffering but rather self-pity for having to pin him down throughout the writhing, screaming, kicking whilst the nurse faffed and faffed and faffed some more. Baby jabs were fine.

I didn't like DC1's first jabs. I remember making DH do the second lot. But I've done the rest and not been upset at all.

Taking a compliant baby is absolutely nothing compared to a massive pissed off needle-phobic worked up teenager, mind you.

Absolutely. Everyone was telling me how awful the vaccinations would be when my 3 year old had them, because he'd be 'more aware'... actually, they were the easiest because I could explain it to him... I said he'd get some special medicine to keep him feeling well injected into his arm and that the lovely nurse would give him a sticker afterwards. I was honest that it might hurt a little big, but said that it would be very quick and he'd be fine. And he was absolutely fine, no tears at all!

I was fine with the early ones but the 1 year jabs were sad. My DD cried for ages and then started crying when she saw the needle for the second 2 jabs.
She then had to have a 5th jab as the nurse had actually given her an incorrect vaccine so it wasn't a great day.
I didn't cry but she was really sad. The 5th jab was awful because she'd just calmed down and then saw the nurse prepping again and it set her off.

*a little bit!

People need help if they seriously feel resentful towards the person immunising their child from disease 🙄

I didn't get upset at all. DS1 was ok with his, DD was quite angry looking and DS2 absolutely sobbed for ages.

This is an over-simplification. For some women who have seen their babies already subjected to huge amounts of intervention in NICU, or traumatic entry into the world, vaccinations can be very traumatic. It's not a logical thing, it's a primal thing - knowingly inflicting pain on the infant can really mess with a Mother's head, when the hormones racing through the system are designed for you to protect the baby from all harm. It's not attention seeking. It's a biological reaction for some women. Be grateful that you've never experienced it, but be wary of judging those who have.

I didn't either. It did upset me when my son needed a blood draw - but that's totally different!

OP, just realised my replies were on a bit of a tangent...

So to answer your question properly, I've never cried at vaccinations for either of my children!

I was quite shaken and emotional when one of mine had a nasty accident, however. They were thankfully absolutely fine and we ascertained that almost immediately, however the potential consequences could have been life changing injury or death. I had to be very careful to bite back the tears while feeling as though I was sobbing internally, because it was so frightening for me but comforting him took priority ('fine' in this case means 'bruised and shaken')!

I've also felt upset when my older child feels emotional about something sad, for example, and I can't make it better... I've sometimes wanted to cry with him just because he's feeling so wretched. We've cried together because a pet has died.

@Caiti19 I mean I guess you're not wrong, but generally these stories are coming from people we actually know. Not strangers where we don't know the general gist of their birth stories.

My DS didn't cry anyway. He pursed his lips and gave the doctor a look like a raging demon. I am surprised an exorcist style voice didn't declare "shove it up your ass"

Why would you get upset? It's for their health and even if the baby cries, you know it won't be for long, they won't remember it and they don't even know what's happened!

I agree, it's completely different...

I was at the hospital a few weeks ago when a pre school age child was having blood taken... the hysterical screams down the corridor of "no, no, noooooo, get off my hand" were hard to hear, I felt an emotional twinge even though they weren't even my child! Also had a similar experience in the fracture clinic recently, overhearing a child who was clearly in a lot of pain being plastered...

I guess the difference between those things is that vaccinations are literally short, sharp, fast procedures. The other scenarios are much, much harder because it's hard to see your child (or any child) in pain and you feel helpless/powerless to do anything (whereas the default is usually having the power to soothe a child and make them feel better about most circumstances quite quickly).

Another proud callous cold hearted one here 🤣🤣🤣 it’s something that has to be done, attention seeking hysterics is just immature and ridiculous.

Empty vessels make most noise. I tend to assume anyone that gets all publicly sobby and dramatic over a routine childhood vaccination is as shallow as a ditch in a drought - and/or has lived a very charmed life.

Ha ha 😂! My 4yo needs the polio booster and I'm dreading it as they'll know exactly what's happening and won't want it to happen so I'll have to hold them down, but we're past the physical compulsion stage for everything else so it just feels more...wrong... than wrestling a non-compliant toddler.

I felt only pleased that it was done and incredibly grateful that we have them!

I'm not a heart of stone person, I blub at films and books, often get tearful with my kids when they are really struggling with their emotions (eg over missing our family in the pandemic, when a family pet died, etc.)

And yes very emotional after actual medical emergencies, though I'm excellent until after the crisis moment. But I'll admit to a lump in my throat when my toddler was wheeled into surgery, when they had to insert cannulas and take blood, etc etc.

But honestly the pain of vaccines is SO fleeting and the benefits are so enormous, I didn't even feel a twinge. Just grinned at their outrage and told them not to be silly sausages or whatever.

May be coincidence or maybe not but my kids are now massively confident about vaccines, injections, etc. I try to play it chilled so they stay chilled.

I was never bothered. I did cry at DC1’s second jabs, but I had an upset stomach come on very quickly while we were in the room and I vomited into the sink, and was a bit embarrassed.

Oh god I cried when my first had his jabs , definitely the 8 week ones. But I was 8 week pp so still hormonal! Tbh can't remember if I did with my second 😂

True!

It's like they think it means they're better parents!

It's like they think it means they're better parents!*

Judging by the comments on here, it seems to be the other way about.

I’ve given baby immunisations for 22 years and I think parents (usually mothers) fall into 4 camps.

1. those that are nervous and slightly upset at the idea that their precious new baby has to have injections, but brace themselves and just get on with it.
2. those that are a bit overdramatic and make it all about them and their distress.
3. those that are absolutely fine, relaxed and calm.
4. those that insist on someone else bringing their baby as they’re so needle phobic and freaked out at the idea they can’t even come in the room. Rarely genuinely needlephobic and just like a bit of drama.

Most mums fall into camps 1 or 3.

Funnily enough the ones who have had babies in NICU or have needed surgery or procedures previously tend to be most relaxed as they know the immunisations are so much “easier” and quicker than anything they’ve already been through.

Our DD had to have a BCG at about 3 weeks old - that one did upset me as she was so so little and it’s was quite a grim jab (DH had to hold her in position and cover her face as it has a tendency to spray apparently, which she didn’t like before the jab even happened). Her 8 weeks upset me only because I was on my own and was stressed about getting calpol into a screaming baby (think it was more FTM anxiety than being upset tbh). 12 and 16 week didn't phase me at all

didnt get at all upset at jabs but the heel prick test did make me a bit emotional-just seemed so mean to make my tiny new baby bleed (but I knew that was irrational!)

wrt babies crying-I can’t bear it. I will do anything to stop it which is probably not the best in terms of parenting!